From LaBelle, Florida for Hendry and Glades County and the Lake Okeechobee region. Don Browne, editor.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Tim Rumph Murder Trial Begins In LaBelle

Rumph Murder Trial This WeekCLEWISTON, FL. -- Timothy A. Rumph will be judged by a 6-person jury this week for the 2009 murder of Gee Gee Gary of Clewiston.

On Friday morning, December 4, 2009, at approximately 6:25 a.m. Hendry County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the area of 10th Street and Kentucky Avenue in the Harlem subdivision of Clewiston, Florida after receiving a call that someone had been shot.(Photo: Timothy Arthur Rumph) Once Deputies arrived on scene they immediately saw a man known to them as 35-year old Gee Gee Gary of 1220 Harlem Academy Drive lying on the ground, suffering from a gunshot wound.

Medics arrived and transported him to Hendry Regional Hospital where he later died. Investigators with the Hendry County Sheriff's Office immediately began searching for witnesses and were able to locate one individual that saw the entire incident occur. After speaking with several witnesses, Investigators were able to request an arrest warrant for Timothy Arthur Rumph for the charge of 2nd Degree Murder. On December 5, 2009, at approximately 4:45 p.m., then 20 year old, Timothy Arthur Rumph turned himself in to Hendry County Deputies. He was then placed under arrest and was being held in the Hendry County Jail on $250,000 Bond.

The trial begins begins at 9:00 a.m. Monday May 23, 2011 at the Hendry County Courthouse, beginning with jury selection.

Update 5/23/2011: The trial has been continued to June 17th, 2011. Judge Radford R. Sturgis said more witnesses may have to be interviewed and there is a possibility of a plea agreement to manslaughter as the defense has some self-defense arguments.

Note: Only 38 prospective jurors showed up for jury duty on May 23rd out of a reported 1,000 sent letters.

Update 6/22/2011: The trial has been moved to July 5th, 2011 at 9 a.m. at the Hendry County Courthouse.

Update 9/23/2011: The trial which has been postponed many times and scheduled for Sept. 23 has been postponed once again. A hearing is scheduled for October.